Free Web NovelChapter 307: Chapter 243: Training Routine
The noon meal smelled fantastic.
Today there was spicy chicken and carefully prepared, chilled sweet and sour bayberry soup.
But the newbies were all a bit puzzled by it.
Hands shaking, legs numb.
Sitting while eating hurt their stomachs, standing made their legs sore.
Even picking up food was difficult, their chopsticks kept trembling, lacking any sense of direction in their grip.
Then they observed the eating utensils of the older Special Duty soldiers: two large spoons, one for serving food, the other for eating.
Truly freaking brilliant.
Damn it, this morning’s training actually had 13 items!
Three sets of each!
Which meant 39 items in total, like 15 reps of the arm adduction machine, 30 barbell lifts, 10 grip presses... counting each as one.
Lunch started promptly at 12, two hours total, averaging three minutes to complete each item.
No extra rest time, the rest was within those three minutes.
At first, it seemed okay, and even after a dozen items, it was less than 20 minutes.
But the more tired they got, the more intense it became.
Especially with the barbell exercises.
The weights for the grip press and barbell squats weren’t too heavy for safety reasons, but they practiced in groups of three, one lifting and two spotting.
Initially, they didn’t think they needed spotters.
But by the third set, just touching the barbell felt like it was covered in thorns.
When Zhang Tianwang got to his third set, he wanted to show off so he pushed hard several times, but as soon as his hands loosened, had it not been for the quick response of the spotters to pull the barbell up, he would have nearly been crushed by the barbell, unable to catch his breath.
The training methods were completely different from what they were used to in their previous squadrons.
Those gym machines were scattered around their old squadron’s training room, just not as complete as in the Second Squadron.
In the past, those things were mostly played with when bored or as "toys" for comrades to compare "who’s the real man."
A few chuckles and laughs to win the applause of comrades, and when it felt strenuous, they’d just put it down, never treating it as proper training.
But today, Fang Huai combined these things into their nightmare.
On the way out, Qin Hongjun and Zhou Tiannu, who had integrated better with the Second Squadron, were shivering and asking around about where they could buy the protective gear they were wearing.
Everyone was quite proud, saying it was issued by Big Demon King Fang.
As Fang Huai walked by, he patted them with a chuckle, saying:
"Hang in there for two more days, I’ll buy them for you after May Day, I’m broke right now."
The two were baffled.
After Fang Huai walked past, they asked:
"Does he... buy the personal protective equipment with his own money?"
The person next to them laughed: "Have you seen the ’Dream Life Column’ on the wall of the second floor? Fang Huai isn’t short on money! We’re all just here to get by, but he is here to feed us! If you train hard and tell him what you want to eat, he’ll definitely go out of his way to get it for you. Little White in the Squadron Training Tower gets to enjoy a barbeque one or two times a week!"
"Oh..." The two exclaimed in amazement.
Fang Huai’s image began to take shape in their minds.
Fang Huai’s many efforts in training were not as widely extolled as his actions as a magnate, yet they added a touch of mystery to his formidable persona.
But regardless of how wealthy or lavish, it was the training that earned the old soldiers’ respect and was the root of the esteem he enjoyed.
...
Afternoon.
"One, two, three, four!"
"One two three, four!"
Before the five-kilometer run of the Second Squadron, there was an 800-meter assembly run for warming up.
Fang Huai didn’t lead the team but hid in the last row, chatting with Hao Chengbin while they ran.
"Squad Leader, isn’t it about time for your proposal to the Mrs.? You had planned a spring story, but now it’s been over twenty days since Grain Rain. Give it another week or so, and it will be the Start of Summer!"
Hao Chengbin’s face showed a mix of emotions as he sighed:
"I was thinking of doing it in April, but then Little Black’s incident happened, and I didn’t feel it was right to bring it up. Little Black passed on March 5th, right? The 10th, I thought... maybe wait a month, talk about it after next month’s 10th." freёweɓnovel.com
Upon hearing this, Fang Huai quickly raised his hand and waved it off with a smile, saying:
"No need to wait. I discussed your proposal with Little Black before, and he said he wanted to be the one to deliver the ring for you. He loved being part of the action so much; he’d definitely want to see it. I think doing it on May Day would be good, with Yang Shaoqing also here. If the missus starts crying, she can help wipe her tears."
Fang Huai told a white lie for the greater good.
He hadn’t actually talked to Little Black specifically about Squad Leader Hao’s proposal, but everyone in the squadron knew and was looking forward to it.
Going by what Squad Leader Hao suggested, after the 10th...
The proposal help would have to wait until June.
Once he returns, he’ll probably have to go into concentration training. freewebnσvel.cѳm
This has basically turned into a story of autumn, hasn’t it?
The love life of firefighters is a tough one; always this busy or that busy, really testing one’s patience until they can’t stand it and run off.
This kind of example is dime a dozen.
Where on earth do all these everlasting love stories come from? You can’t give much money, nor much time, not even a promise, and when the wives run off, it has nothing to do with the firefighting profession, purely self-inflicted.
Once Fang Huai said this, Hao Chengbin also fell into deep thought.
"Fine... I’ll give it some thought."
"Heh, think some more, and your youth will be dedicated to the state... you know the next part, right?"
"Smack!"
Hao Chengbin glared with furrowed brows.
"Hey! You little rascal! I’m telling you, your sister-in-law treats me really well!"
Fang Huai got slapped on the back of his head but remained defiant: "Right, right, right, you are the Andy Lau of Jiangxi, girls especially like your handsome face, appreciate your monthly income of three thousand, and admire your noble profession that is super honorable and easy to die in. Without sister-in-law, you are still in high demand, you also enjoy fighting on the front lines. I am sure all the fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law are eager to have their daughters marry you to become widows."
Every sentence a stab to the heart.
With that remark, a sense of urgency about possibly becoming an older bachelor wrapped tightly around Hao Chengbin’s heart.
"Labor Day, Labor Day it is! I’m going to propose!"
A loud shout caused everyone in the formation to turn their heads.
"Captain Hao, what are you proposing?"
Hao Chengbin wavered for a moment.
Fang Huai gave him a look.
With a grit of his teeth, Hao Chengbin declared: "A proposal! This Labor Day, I’m going to propose!"
The troops burst into a frenzy.
"Damn! Captain Hao is going to propose!"
"What? When?"
"Labor Day, Labor Day!"
"Captain Hao, I want wedding sweets!"
Hearing this, Hao Chengbin also panicked: "No, no, no, the third of May... I’m not ready yet!"
Fang Huai laughed: "Man, you’re really coarse and sentimental!"
...
Carrying the empty call, five kilometers.
On the playground, the competitors were the Honda Accord, the Volvo XC90, the Bentley Flying Spur, the Ferrari 488, and old clunkers that carry the glory of firefighting history but can’t seem to run fast no matter what.
No matter how hard you hit the gas, you barely hit eighty or ninety.
The years are a butcher’s knife, indeed.
The older second stage officers, along with Hao Chengbin who was about to enter the ’grave’ of marriage, all watched the young guys speeding around the field, wheezing heavily, emitting sighs.
After one trip, Fang Huai was more than a hundred meters behind He Zhijun, finishing in 17 minutes and 10 seconds.
He Zhijun came in at 17 minutes, 16 minutes and 55 seconds.
The rest were straggling.
Including the likes of Liu Jianfeng and Hu Hongzhi, who were light-bodied and usually quick on their feet, they all clocked in around 18 minutes, not leaving much gap with those who typically ran slower.
Their carrying capacity was clearly lacking.
They had to train.
After finishing the run, Fang Huai looked around the field, gasping for air, and went to fetch a dummy from the car.
By the time the last finisher, Han Yong, crossed the finish line, Fang Huai had already returned with the dummy on his shoulder.
With a "thump," the red dummy crashed to the ground.
That sound seemed to hit everyone right in the chest.
They were all stunned: "What’s this supposed to mean?"
Fang Huai offered a smile: "As usual, what we just had was an assessment, now comes the training."
Everyone groaned in resignation.
Here we go again, here we go.
A few of the newcomers were a bit shocked.
This Special Duty Team, with such non-stop action every day, isn’t it going to kill someone?
But Comrade Zhang Tianwang had quite a different reaction; he supported his aching back with heavy breathing, looked at the dummy on the ground representing the four hundred meters’ supply evacuation and, with a forcibly cheerful face, maintained his dignity:
"This is how it should be... After running... warming up... oof... we should get into some short-range training."
Fang Huai nodded and commended: "See, that’s an old comrade for you! Don’t worry, Squad Leader Zhang, the Special Duty Team will satisfy you."
